001How's it going? Good. All right, welcome everyone to the organizational and regular school board meeting of Smith Green Community Schools on Tuesday, January 6th at 6:30. Please rise. Ice to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The mission of Smith Green Community Schools by focusing on excellence in education and providing opportunities for all students to succeed. We strive to be the best small school in Indiana. Please join me for a moment of meditation. >> Thank you. >> Yes. First is uh the most important is our student spotlight. Uh and I've asked Mrs. P if she wish. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> So tonight I have um asked four of our juniors to join us. Um these
002four ladies and you can come on up when I call your name. Um I have Nola Vanski, Charlotte Elliot, Delaney Hat, and They are here and these four ladies are being recognized this month. They are rising stars of Indiana for the class of 2027. The rising stars program is a program of the Indiana Association of School Principles. To earn this award, these students have to be enrolled in advanced courses, earn high scores on AP and PSAT assessments, be involved in extracurricular activities, and display leadership qualities. According to the Rising Stars website, this program is designed to honor high school juniors for their academic achievement, and it helps increase their scholarship opportunities. So, just like students who automatically score certain scores on AP and SAT tests, they are eligible for merit scholarships. This is an addition
003to that as well. Um, this program is specific to high school principles in Indiana. I was able to nominate four students and all four of ours were selected. So, pretty big deal. So, pretty proud of their accomplishments. If you know these ladies, you know that they've been around. They're in the arts. They're in athletics. They're in all the things. They're on stage front and center. They're some of our most involved students. So, to be able to do all of the things that I just listed and be nominated and selected, it's a pretty pretty big honor. So, they're representative of So, congratulations. >> That truly is awesome. I'm not But I don't think I could accomplish one of those ladies to do all those things and then be selected on top of that. >> Yeah, these
004are the ladies that spend more hours of school than I do. So, it's pretty great. It's pretty great. So, congratulations ladies again. >> Right on up there in the middle for us, please. Yes. I will. >> All right. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you very much. Congratulations. Congratulations >> and thank you for all of >> you guys. All right. Bye. >> I'll see you ladies tomorrow. So I know they're great. I warmed them ahead of time. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Staff spotlight. Uh since this is only the second day of the month since we've been back, uh January and February staff spotlight will be selected next month. We do have a couple other things I'd like to mention uh under celebrations and one is uh we would like to recognize and thank all our board
005members for their service to our kids and our community. It truly is a thankless job and I'm not sure why anybody would want to be. So with that being uh said, thank you. Uh this is a school board appreciation month and we thank you for your service. appreciate. Uh again, we are only two days into our second semester, but it's great to see our students and teachers back in the building. I can't believe school year already. It really is. Um I would also like to thank and congratulate our athletic department athletes. Thea announced their all sportsmanship teams uh for the fall and Cherus High School made first team all sportsmanship. just another example that things are congratulations to those athletes and um other than that um unfortunately as of right now for the month of
006January so far I'm sure and that is all I have Yes. I asked uh Mir to do a special presentation on our new website that we've been working. When I say we, I really mean Mrs. Hers and Mr. >> Yes. And I I know you got a lot to go on tonight, so I'll try and keep it short and sweet. Um just a couple of things to highlight. um major changes from the old website to the new website. Um if you look at our old website, the navigation is just lists and then you click and then you click and you click and I think just turnover and and just lack of upkeep. Honestly, everything is there. Um it's just not been updated or removed when we don't use it anymore, for example. So it's very
007resourceful, but it's too much. Um, so we're looking at ease of access, ease of navigation, one-stop shop, less clicks, um, things that will open and preview, not just you have to download. Um, so just a lot more user friendly. Um, to be really honest, we have a lot more people using Parent Square and our social media for those quick things now. Um, and this new website is hosted through Parent Square, so it's all linked. So if I go in and I update or send a message to parents on parent square and create a calendar event like I have a parent info meeting the end of the month. If I click that, it not only updates the calendar, it updates the website now, too. And it's all linked together while still sending parents messages and things
008like that. So there's a lot more things that it can do here and it's all the same company. So So there's that. Just a few things for um ease. You can see this is still in draft form. It's it is live. It's going to go live. Um the district page itself will be what is ready to roll. Essentially, we're going to focus on updating and kind of weeding out all of that information. So, part of the process is to to create the new website instead of losing everything. We populate it over. So, I'm not starting from scratch, but I also still have to go through and take out all the things that don't apply anymore. So, um you'll see like the new pictures. Obviously, these are this this year, last year's graduation group. Um, you'll
009see some of the quick links are still it's just a little more inviting, a lot more again user friendly, straight to the point. Paul, if you can scroll down for me, you'll see what I'm talking about as far as these are all things that have been linked directly through parent square. So, you can see anytime I post something or a nurse post something, we have the option to choose, right? If Erica wants to send assessments are coming, you know, she can choose now it goes directly to parents, but it's also an updated news article on the website. So, Yeah, pretty pretty user friendly. Um, and this is where the calendar would be. It's not all populated. I did link our social media. So, again, it's all just interconnected and everything is all the same. So,
010it's not websites updated. Social media is not on all of that. Um, also all the images um should be clickable eventually and again they'll have access like here was our most recent play at the bottom. So Paul, if you just scroll up um and click on departments at the top and then food service for me >> right there. Yep. So you will see what we're trying to do is um it's all in one spot. Again, I don't know if you guys in there. >> Yeah. Yeah. So these are some of our kids, right? And so we're trying to put it all like I don't know if you guys really used the old website, but it I mean it's it's literally just a list and you have to click the link and then click the link
011and then choose to open. It's all literally right here. So now what you're clicking on will just take you to whatever you need. It's not >> I kind of weeded out some things. Um if you scroll back up under departments again um and click on um healthcare services um I've added some um if you scroll down all of these now all our requirements all the laws extra sources so I added our local um supports now um ways to report bullying so everything again is that must stop you don't have to search for bullying to find out where you're so I try to condense you go up to department one more time. The last thing I just want to show you is human resources. Um, we're going to try to click away from having to go
012all the way through all the places. Region 8 is going to work with us to merge. So, I'm not going to all the other websites to apply. I can do something here that will kick to them instead. So, all of these things are live and ready to go. So, it tells you, okay, this is what I want to do. If I need to do this for Carrie, all of it now will be able to get kicked to her. And everybody's contact, all the formats will be simar. I I'm using like four or five page layout so it looks nice but all of them will be set up in the same that when you scroll to the bottom contacts will be there you can click on directly to her. Um it's a lot of work so
013again please be please be patient with us. If you catch something or you want something or you have an idea we're going to add curriculum and and assessment notices and things like that. But the district like I said has everything now. You could see those three pages I showed you are done. That's what it's going to look like. Um, it's a lot easier than those than those old school lists. Um, what was I? Let's make sure I said everything I wanted to say. Um, yeah, that one-stop shop. Uh, the this is kind of the timeline. Like I said, this is actually going to be live. Dave and I meet one more time on Tuesday. There's some things that we want to hide um because in that rollover, they just don't even apply to try to
014kind of limit some of the stuff. Some of it over over populated. So, there's some duplicates, but the district will be ready to go. So, you can start sharing it. We will post that out to parents and just say, "Check it out. More more coming soon." On the school separate pages, it will say from now until about the end of the school year, um where to go to get certain information. If they're looking for something, if you're on the hunt, here's some quick things. Here's some parent square. Here's who to contact if you're missing something. Don't spend time searching. We're working on it kind of under maintenance thing just so parents aren't frustrated. Um But we have these quick links that are all going to be available for on both school sides. So then the
015goal will be over summer um each side is going to have a person to that will that I will train on how to um the two two of our secretaries, one on each side will then be able to go in and update and maintain. So I'll be able to do documents. Erica will have access um you know our counselors will have access so everybody can kind of maintain their page and so there's some policy and accountability there. But then um will be able to update pictures and things like that and and those quick little lunch menus and things like that. So, I think that's everything. It's we're trying to update I did update already our vision and mission. All of that is new. It's all in line with our communication plan. Um all the staff
016um all our legal notices. I think I think we're rolling. So, and you'll see some changes and I'll continue to post updates like I do. Hey, check it out. Things like that so we get some traffic. But >> about mobile friendly? >> Yes, it's parent square, so it'll go through the app just like it does, too. So, if I click on something and I link it to our app, there's a mobile version. >> Well, what about here? Just >> Yep. So, everything should preview. Um, that's the way I've got it set up. I'm going to keep playing with it. So, I might ask some parents, hey, try this, you know, for me, some teachers if they're messaging back. But so far, everything I've clicked on on my phone is way better than it's it converts
017to that mobile because it's parent square, which which was the big cell really. All this align with trying to be a familyfriendly school and also [clears throat] >> sorry you guys have any questions. >> No wonderful. I was trying to make sure I hit all my notes for you. >> I was actually on the current website today. So >> yes, that's when you just close an email. >> All right. Well, thank you, Mr. >> Since we have uh any public tonight or anybody's hand to speak. We will skip the public comments portion to the first board to nominate and vote for a president. Are there any other nominations? >> Okay, we just need a motion. Now we ask the board to select and vote on >> you didn't do it this fast. >> I mean
018I'm done. Any other nominations? >> Just a motion. >> Motion to nominate vice president. >> I'll make a motion for Brian to be 26. Anybody else want to nominate anyone else? >> We just need a motion. >> Brian, the secretary. >> Okay. Next, we're asking for approval of the board of members of ethics. Um annually the board of school trustees signs the board member of ethics that guides decision making and expect expected operations of the board as identified by law 144. >> I motion to approve. Next we ask for your approval for appointments treasure deputy treasure extracurricular treasure individual authorized to sign corporate checks beyond individuals authorized to sign extracurricular checks would be Mir and myself individuals authorized to sign checks or contracts agreements and purchase orders. Any questions or concerns? motion to next. We
019ask for your approval for the 2026 regular board meeting dates and times. >> Yes. You want me to read through motion to approve the 2026 >> [clears throat] >> Multiple of these following no school days. Is that okay? Right. >> Correct. The plan is to stay on the third Monday. >> Motion to approve the 26 meetings. >> I'll second. Next is board compensation. Board members may receive an annual amount not to exceed 10% of the lowest started salary of a teacher employed by the school corporation for their service. Therefore, the proposed annual salary for each board member would be $4,400. Therefore, we recommend approval the annual board salary of $4,400. >> How does this compare to the current salary? Currently each board member receives 2,000 and you guys have not taken any years when I
020started >> not interested in I'm not doing this to make money for community. So >> I agree. We just need a motion >> to deny it. I motion to deny the approval of the raise for the board and continue to keep it where it is. I'll >> second. >> All those in we say where it is the annual keep it as the existing. >> Thank you very much. Next we ask for approval or appointment of corporation council. We ask retain legal services from Mr. Tim. >> We don't have any reasons. [clears throat] I can tell you >> that's a good thing. [laughter] >> Motion to approve the appointment. >> Second. >> Now we ask your approval to continue using the newspapers of the Albian and News. legal notices and requirements of the district. >> They're
021all made the same place. What was the other one? >> Approval of the newspapers. >> All those in favor? >> Now we asking members to continue on the position for Smith Green Multi School Building Corporation. Mr. Fleetwood as president and Mr. Marot to approve the multi-billion >> next we ask for coordinators will be Mr. G and Mrs. Cook to their appointments at Smith Community Schools Title 9 coordinators for 2026. >> I will motion for the appointment of title coordinators as Gre. >> Next, we have a list of appointments here. Annually, a member of the school board is appointed to each of the following committees. Um, what is listed as currently in your assignments where you're volunteering to be on those committees. [clears throat] >> Yeah, I know the strategic plan needs to be updated. >>
022Yes. that >> are there any of the other committees anybody would like to be a part of that are not >> that I will Yeah. >> Any other changes? >> Then we just need a motion. >> Okay. So, >> I would say per >> the discussed >> change a motion to continue the appointments from 25 outlining Emily and Casey moving to strategic planning committee for 2026. >> I'll second all those fate agenda. I just want to point out that under accounts payable and payroll fact that this is only the sixth day of the month and we don't have any financials for you. They will be presented at our next Motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Not the last time off >> since their special session. >> It took another time off. >> All right.
023New business. >> Yes. We ask for approval to authorize our treasurer uh to transfer funds from the education fund to the operation fund. This is not to exceed 1.3 million for 15% of the education fund. And this is something to approve the resol resolution for education fund operations on transfers. Next we ask for resolution to transfer to the rain fund. Again this is not to exceed 50,000 day fund. If you remember we started this two years ago. This third to build up the transp This is the second reading. No changes have been made. So we ask for your approval. Volume 3. >> Any questions on policies to adapt volume 38 number one policies? Second. We're going to skip public comments again and move on to administrative comments principles report. >> Um yeah, I I have
024a lot for February, so I'll be short tonight. I just wanted to give you guys a quick update. I meant to West um meeting too. You remember at the start of the school year when we hired um Mr. Kore and Mr. Status, assistant athletic director, we've been running a pilot of grade checks um and every week he's meeting with students and Um and so we've our study tables attendance has tripled this school year um as a way to be proactive. Grades are officially due tomorrow morning and those are reports were done. But I wanted to share with you that we've lost no one um for ineligibility this year as a result of that and our F list is about fourth of the size that it was. Um, so students are passing, they're staying after, they're
025getting the support they need. Um, and they're being quite successful as part of that pilot. So, we're going to continue that pilot into the second half, but we will truly enforce it as far as um, you know, they'll report to study tables if they're active in any kind of extracurricular or co-curricular um, before they can attend practice or participate, things like that. It's more in line with IHSA, but most importantly, kids are getting on top of their grades before we ever have to worry about them missing anything. It's been a really cool um process and I just wanted to share that update. So, that's all I have. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Yeah. >> curriculum report. >> Yeah, I think I am updating next month for my strategic plan, so I'll keep it brief to
026um we've just started planning already for next year and I met with Dr. this morning. Um and we're just really excited. the state has come out with some new guidance on math and early math instruction and so we're going to have some um new endeavors to tackle. Um but we will we'll get there. This last year was kind of a focus on reading. Next year they're really focusing in on math and math instruction and early intervention in math. So um we'll kind of go down that same road, but I think we'll we'll have a good game plan. We learned a lot this year. Um and then met with Melissa and her counselors before break about offerings and what in February excited about it. >> Thank you for the superintendent report. I have a couple things
027I'd like to share. One, our auditors have finished their onsite visit. We are just waiting on them to schedule our interviews. I anticipate that be within the next two weeks. I can't thank Susan and the ladies in this office enough. The others are very demanding and a huge time commitment uh for our staff to accommodate them and also do their daily. just like to thank all the ladies who put in a ton of extra time but I am looking forward to report. No sir. Okay. Um this is just a melection tomorrow. Yeah. >> Um I It's hard for me to believe that just three years ago today was my first official board meeting. >> Three years. Um, and I also gave you a print out of what this team, and when I and I do
028mean team of dedicated people accomplished in 2015. And by no means is this a complete list. It's just some of the bigger things. Obviously, does not include our day-to-day operations. Um, I can tell you I'm proud of that list. I'm proud of the people I get to work with. Um, you know, this If you remember from the last two years, this list is as just as big and just as important. Um, we are continuing with our foot on the gas. I'm already looking forward, like I said, we had opportunity talking about we're planning on already for next summer and next year and we are keeping our foot on the gas. I think it just goes to show that great things are happening. I'm done. Well, just to roll off of that, um, and I would
029I would completely um agree with your statements and I've been very excited over the last three years with you of what we've accomplished and how our focus has very much been inside of our organization and really focusing on making those improvements. Um, from the staff level uh to facilities level to just policy level everything we've been so focused in ter I really feel like we've came a long ways the last three years thank you I also want to say uh to our rising star ladies you know and I think we talked about this because we caught wind of this last month but wow just wow uh it's fantastic to hear and fantastic to see uh having students uh you know really excel to that level and then the recognition that they're able to get and
030we're able to get you know from all their efforts is just fantastic. So that is super exciting news and that's all I got. Yes, Dr. Boy. Thank you very I had someone ask me just today um what it was like being on the school board because they like had the same sentiment like why would you want to do that? And I said I said the last I said the last three years have been actually pretty great and I said it was it's enjoyable and to get to um I feel like the first two years I was on board I didn't get to see a lot of things get come to fruition or get completed. Um and so getting and I know it's just a matter of time five years makes a big difference for the
031last three years getting to see these things check out the box has been so thank you very much with all that and I feel we are in a much better position looking forward for future events we know will probably come along. I think we have a good plan for how we're going to deal with that the known and the unknown aspects of what we see. So, thank you for that. Uh, is there any update on the weight room? Did all the gear and everything come in? Is that done? >> No. >> Talk about checking things off the list. [laughter] >> Treadmills are going to be put together. >> Yeah, we have some. We have >> this is when they show you bikes or treadmills. >> I don't remember which. They're in boxes, but one of
032the two of the sets. So, we We only have we have two more pieces I think coming. >> Yeah. And then some storage cleanup um and furniture that we'll get eventually. >> So that looked like that was pretty well received in the picture you took there. >> Yes. And just as a secret note, >> we will be rolling some things out. Um, some fundraisers for athletics and then the arts uh later this spring for Zo Square. Um, we will be doing a wait room dedication on March 4th, but we will receive official invitation and information soon. But just to kind of wrap it up and close that door and move on to our next future projects. >> Cool. Yeah. So, >> very good. That's also thank you for the addition of the suicide awareness group
033to the page because that group is planning events looking into the next year. >> So, that'll be a good resource. >> Yeah. All locals. We're trying to >> That's all I have. Congratulations to the winners of the award. >> I did ask Sarah a question. I said, "Here's something I'll never know, but isn't climbing on a ladder in a dress in the middle of the play. She was like, "That was that was terrifying." Every time she went up there, I'm like, "Don't fall." I can't imagine. Anyways, that's the point of the story. Just keep going, Jeremy. Spotlight, success, congratulations. That's wonderful. And honestly, I think 2025 is probably one of our better years. I don't remember one thing the board really had to do. I wasn't contacted once this year for once for anything. So,
034>> but I thought it was wonderful. That's all part of all you know everybody's here. You too. So, and then us for that matter. >> Um I mean I would agree with what everybody said. I think three years has been good with Paul at the home. Um, and he has brought some really good people in that have made a big difference and added a lot to our school. Um, you know, the hashtag that we continue to use over and over that good things are happening here, good people are happening here, too. Um, and so we're just very blessed. This community is very blessed to have all the teachers and the administration and everybody that we have working behind the scenes and on the front lines every day at our school. I wanted to Congratulate our
035girls wrestlers. Thanks to Emily. She was giving us updates. So, congratulations to them. The first and the third. So, kudos to them. What's next for them now? >> Regionals is that >> Saturday. >> At Cook. Okay. Well, good luck to them as well. Um, >> good. Good. Um, the all sportsmanship award for athletes. That's a huge uh accolade that I mean it just shows you're on the court, off the court, you're you're being the right kind of person. So, I love that accolade. Um, the new website is phenomenal. I can't tell you how many times I go to look at something on the website and then I just get super frustrated. >> Like, oh, I need to send a message to the art teacher. I can't find anybody trying to find >> this is ridiculous.
036Never mind. >> Yeah. And then send one of them a message to say, "What's their email?" Um, so yeah, kudos to that. I mean, I love just even the little quick task, the the on Facebook DC. Does anybody have the school calendar? >> Like so much easier to just be able to send that link to that calendar. So, um yeah, love it. Love it. I think everything is moving in the right direction. Um and I love the extracurricular checks for athletes. You know, what a scary thing to be an athlete and find out, oh, you know, you're playing great. But to be doing it ahead of the ball, you know, and staying on top of it, like that's awesome. So, thank you. continue doing what we're doing and that's all I have. [clears throat] >>
037Anything else? >> If not, [clears throat] we will go ahead and close the organizational regular school board meeting of Smith Green School, January 6 at 711. Why does it feel like this is repetition from what we just did? The finance, >> you know, it's the same. >> All right. We will open the board of finance meeting at Smith Community Schools, Tuesday, January 6th at 7-Eleven. The >> purpose of this meeting is to meet requirements by Indiana code 5-13-7-6 which requires officers be selected in other businesses business be conducted. So the first item up is approval of the school board uh the school trustees and the superintendent be as the appointed as the board of finance for the year 2026. >> Motion for the designation of finance. All those in. >> Next is election officers. Uh
038we ask approval of the newly elected president and secretary of the board of school trustees serve as the elected officers. President and secretary respectfully motion to the election officers. All those in >> f. >> Next we ask for approval of star financial bank as our 2026 depository and a motion to approve star financial as >> next as Mrs. to share with the board our financial condition of our schoolor in front of you. I've also got it up on the screen. >> Our average daily membership, this is a time span from 2021 up to [clears throat] the present. Um obviously going back from last year's financial we dropped significantly in 21 for 22 23 and we have continued to drop but came back up this year. So we're up two students versus last year. Um the
039funds that make up everything for the budget is our education fund, operation fund, debt service fund, the rainy day fund, and referendum fund. Um at the end, some of these this report's silly, but some of these go annually from 20 for the year and then some go fally. So we're kind of all over the place, but um the education fund balance the end of 2024 was 2,132607. So it is the highest that it has been over the last five years, four years. So you can see the increase. We dipped down a little bit in 2023, but then back up with that ending balance for 2024. Oops, there we go. operation fund. This covers the um bus, bus and transportation and all the mechanicals of the building and salaries for several people. Um this is put
040together with taxes, the local property taxes and so far we've got a pretty healthy balance in that one as well. We usually do a transfer from education to operations twice a year to help compensate for this fund and help keep the school going and running. The debt service fund, this is what takes care of our um bonds and other loans that we have. This is all funded by the local property taxes and bond payments are twice a year. It's pretty much a money in money out account. The day fund in 2020 we had 980,896. The last um 2024 we did that transfer from education to rainy day of 50,000 and we also did it again for 2025. So we're at million one. Um, our goal is to keep this growing. The operating referendum, um, it's,
041uh, it's there. It's doing well. It's doing what it's intended to do. And hopefully we can continue [clears throat] that come the end of this year. Our numbers are staying where they need to be in order to accomplish everything that was set out to do with the operating referendum fund balances. This is where it gets really interesting. 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 has all been a steady increase for all of those five balances. Then in 2024 it jumped significantly significantly and that was due to us adding in our textbook curriculum material putting that in from its own fund. It got bumped up into the education fund. So that made a huge jump in that group of funds. There were also a couple other things that grew that as well. Um, we had like a 60
042$65,000 drop in operations. Um, I have a list here. Um, yeah, curricular materials um transferred in was roughly 3 79,000 student tuition went up about 250,000. Um the transfer tuition we didn't transfer as much from education to ops in operations we went down by about 65,000 savings that is capital projects went down 230 and interest we went up about 100,000. So that is uh why we show that growth. Total revenue versus expenditure. We're where we need to be. We're not upside down on anything. We didn't overexpend and we kept more revenue in than expenditures out. State tuition support. Um it's showing the growth that we are have been receiving on our basic grant and the projected support tuition support for 2526 is estimated at around 9 million28,000 >> and the next camp phase is in
043February. >> Yes. Yeah. So it could we could lose some or we could grow. Um the tuition support for ADM is broken down there just showing roughly what we're getting per student. Um the education fund expenditures for ADM is what we're paying out roughly per student. Um, this one is all of our bonds. Our debt as to the total corporation debt as of December 31st is 7,115,000. The interest is 844,858. Then we do have a bond coming off in 2026. Um, one in 28. Then I guess two and 28. Yes. Then we've got our two GO bonds and our 2017 bond 2020 bond. The interest income we've received for the year of 2025 is 218,524 little less than last year. Um and I don't have the actual answer as to why other than the economy
044I guess the percentage rate fluctuates with the banks and that is all I have on that last page. It does give you the websites that you can go to look at finance reports dashboard overview report and anything else. Anybody have any questions? We don't have any public comments tonight. Unless there are any other board comments, we will go ahead and close the board of finance meeting schools of Tuesday, January 6th at 7:21.